Trap



Dec' 6, l949 R. M. VARNEDOE, JR' 249013 TRAP Filed Oct. l, 1946 InventorPatenteci Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAP Robert M.Varnedoe, Jr., Baltimore, Md.

Application October 1, 1946, Serial No. 700,443

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structuralrefinements in traps, more specifically, in mouse traps, and theprincipal object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herein described, such as may be conveniently and effectivelyemployed for preventing the rodents from escaping, after they have beencaught.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trap wheren therodent, if desired, may be captured alive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap which is simple inconstruction and operation, and which will not easily become damaged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a trap from whichthe rodent, when caught, may be easily and conveniently removed.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects asmay become apparent as this specification proceeds, the inventionconsists essehtially of the arrangement and construction of parts asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the invention, takensubstantially in the plane of the line I-l in Figure 2, and

Figure 2 is an end view of the invention, taken in the direction of thearrow 2 in Figure l.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in thespecification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionconsists of a trap designated generally by the reference character 5,the same embodying in its construction a substantially cylindricalreceptacle 6, closed at one end thereof and provided at its remainingend with a screw threaded mouth portion 1. This receptacle consttutesonly a minor component of the invention, and may assume the form of asimple bottle or jar, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanyingdrawings.

The receptacle 6 is disposed or rested on its lateral wall, as will beclearly understood, and the screw threaded mouth portion 'l thereof isequipped with a removable cap or closure 8.

The essence of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality ofSector-like, pointed prongs 9 which are struck out from the body of thecover 8 so that the formation thereof provides a substantially circularopening in the cover, as will be readily apparent.

The prongs 9 are angulated inwardly, that is, into the receptacle 6, ina mutually convergent relationship and provide a substantiallyfrustoconical passage Il, the minor end of this passage being disposedin the receptacle, while its major end assumes the form of theafore-mentioned opening Ill.

A supporting bracket 12, configurated substantially as shown, is securedto the cover 8 by suitable screws or rivets |3, a portion of the bracketbeing angulated and providing a substantially horizontal approachplatform Ill at the major end of the passage ll. The afore-mentionedbracket |2 will, of course, stabilize the trap as a whole, that is,prevent the receptacle from rolling along the fioor.

A defiector shield 15 provided with an angulated portion 16 is securedto the inner surface of the cover 8 by means of the afore-mentionedrivets |3, the shield |5 being spaced from the lateral wall of thereceptacle 6 and constituting what may be referred to as a' continuationof the inner end of the passage I I.

When the invention is placed in use, a mouse or a like animal mayreadily enter the receptacle 6 through the passage il, and the shield|5, by affording an entranoe footing at the inner end of the passage,will eliminate any possibility of the animal being discouraged fromentering the receptacle past the pointed ends of the prongs 3. However,once the animal is in the receptacle and attempts to escape by walkinginto the mouth portion of the receptacle in an eifort to reach thepassage ll, the shield 15 will eifectively obstruct direct approach tothe inner end of the passage and escape of the animal will be positivelydiscouraged.

The mice may be captured alive, or alternatively, they may be drowned bysimply pouring water into the receptacle through the passage I I. Themice may be readily removed from the receptacle by unscrewing the cover8.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will bereadily understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly,further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

In an animal trap, the combination of a receptacle cover, pointed prongsstruck out from the center portion of said cover and angulated o 4 in aconvergent relation to provide a frustoconical passage, and an elongateddefiector plate REFERENCES CITED having an angulated end portion thereofsecured The fOllOWing referenCeS ale Of record in the to said cover,said plate extending interiorly file of this patent: along the passagedefined by said prongs and hav- 5 UNIT TEI. ing a flat defiectingportion disposed at the ED STA I ES PA S minor end of said passage, andsaid defiecting Number Name Date portion of said plate having horizontaledges. 1035329 Gabel Jan- 27, 1914 1,190,859 Causey July 11, 19161,282;42'3:= Honanz Oct. 2'2, 1918 RoBER'' M. VARNEDOE` Jr; 10 hsags Eeeet ai. June.1, 1926

